Saskatchewan Minute: Resignation Reactions, Privacy Breach, and Rare Disease Medications

Saskatchewan Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatchewan politics.

This Week In Saskatchewan:

• Following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation announcement, Premier Scott Moe is again calling for a federal election. He says that the prorogation of Parliament and delay in selecting a new Liberal leader is denying Canadians the opportunity to choose their representation. Moe emphasized that his provincial government will continue to focus on critical issues such as affordability, market access, investment, and border security.
  
  
• Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck is suggesting a unified economic strategy that safeguards the province’s interests in light of Trudeau’s resignation, especially with the potential threat of tariffs under incoming US President Donald Trump. Beck expressed frustration over the political turmoil in Ottawa, noting that Saskatchewan cannot afford to wait for the federal Liberals to resolve internal issues or for a federal election to be held. She called for both the Sask Party and NDP to put aside partisanship and focus on the economic challenges facing the province.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan travel industry is optimistic heading into 2025, with busy holiday travel seasons and new flight routes fueling growth. Regina Airport saw record numbers during the Christmas season, with passenger levels surpassing expectations and exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 105% in November. A new daily flight between Regina and Denver, launching in May 2025, is expected to boost both business and leisure travel. Travel agents are also seeing a positive trend, with Uniglobe Carefree Travel Group reporting a 20% increase in 2024 bookings.

Last Week In Saskatchewan:

• Saskatchewan has signed a $40-million agreement with the federal government to enhance access to medication for rare diseases. The deal will help fund treatments for rare lymphoma cancers and a genetic kidney disease, including the drugs Poteligeo, Oxlumo, and Epkinly. Saskatchewan is the fourth province to join the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases, following BC, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Alberta.
  
  
• According to the Privacy Commissioner, Saskatchewan's Ministry of Advanced Education caused a privacy breach by mailing 415 tax slips to the wrong people. The breach occurred due to an error in producing mailing labels which exposed sensitive information, including Social Insurance Numbers and financial details. While the Ministry contained the issue once discovered, 154 slips remain unaccounted for. The Privacy Commissioner found the Province's response inadequate, as they failed to inform those affected about potential risks or offer credit monitoring.
  
  
• In 2024, Saskatchewan RCMP received over 367,000 calls, some of which were deemed unusual and unnecessary. These included calls about a frustrated individual needing help cleaning their room, a person asking for assistance with a math problem, and one about a missing tambourine. Other bizarre reports involved a cat being mean, a fox scaring a cat, and bees in someone's home. The RCMP is reminding the public that 911 should only be used for emergencies, as misuse can prevent others from getting help and may result in fines.